Porcine abdominal cutaneous flap model: A simple and reliable method.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Surgery
• Microsurgery Technology Validation

Background:

• Reconstructive microsurgery is advancing, necessitating robust preclinical validation.
• Animal models are crucial for testing new surgical technologies before human clinical trials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel, simple, reliable, and reproducible cutaneous flap model in pigs.
• To establish a viable animal model for microsurgical device and technology assessment.

Main Methods:

• A cutaneous flap model in pigs pedicled on the superficial inferior epigastric pedicle (SIEP) was developed.
• The surgical technique, including flap burial and bilateral harvesting, was detailed.
• The model allowed for painless, long-term animal follow-up without compromising abdominal wall integrity.

Main Results:

• A simple, reliable, and reproducible cutaneous flap model in pigs was successfully established.
• The superficial inferior epigastric pedicle (SIEP) flap demonstrated feasibility for burial and bilateral harvesting.
• The model ensured painless long-term animal observation and did not affect abdominal wall integrity.

Conclusions:

• The described SIEP cutaneous flap provides a valuable and novel animal model for reconstructive microsurgery research in pigs.
• This model facilitates the validation of new microsurgical technologies and devices.
• The technique's reproducibility and the model's suitability for long-term studies offer significant advantages for preclinical research.